Convertible Stroller-Cycle

ABSTRACT

A cable splicing assembly for guiding a pair of control cables in a vehicle for pushing and riding. The vehicle has a pushing section and a riding section. The cable splicing assembly includes a splice housing having a circumferential opening at a first end and a pair of apertures at an opposite second end. The cable splicing assembly further includes a piston configured to slide axially within the splice housing between the opposite ends thereof in response to movement in the pair of control cables. The piston has an opening for guiding the pair of control cables through a longitudinal length. The cable splicing assembly further includes a housing cap mounted around the first end of the splice housing to close the circumferential opening of the splice housing and to form a cavity with the first end of the splice housing.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/834,261 to Ehrenreich et al., which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/898,791 to Ehrenreich et al.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a vehicle that is converted from astroller for carrying a passenger and cycle operated by a rider to acombined unit. The vehicle is steerable with handlebars mounted on apivoting handlebar assembly and combinable with an operator-poweredbicycle to form a stroller-cycle. More specifically, the inventionrelates to a stroller and a bicycle combined physically andoperationally, such that the operator of the cycle portion of thestroller-cycle can control the braking and steering operation of thestroller portion while the stroller-cycle is in motion. Additionally,the invention relates to a quick release/assembly control systemprovided in the steering column of the stroller-cycle assembly and acable splicing assembly for combining the braking systems of the cycleand stroller portions of the vehicle.

2. Description of the Related Art

Many child stroller designs and operator-powered bicycles and tricyclesare well-known in the art. One such stroller design is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 5,590,896 to Eichhorn.

Eichhorn discloses a three-wheeled collapsible stroller having a frontwheel assembly 320 that is selectively lockable into a straight-aheadposition. The stroller includes independently removable rear wheels 260and 270 and brake mechanisms to prevent rotation of the rear wheels 260and 270. A fabric seat assembly 800, for carrying a child, is supportedbetween a handle tube 20 and front tubes 40 and 45. A seatback 801 ofthe seat assembly 800 can be oriented in an upright or reclinedposition. In the fully extended, unfolded configuration, optionalspring-loaded latch handles 140 and 150 operate to lock the strollerinto the unfolded configuration. When converted into the collapsedconfiguration, the handle tube 20 rotates downwardly, causing fronttubes 40 and 45 to rotate downwardly, thereby bringing the front wheelassembly 320 towards the rear wheels 260 and 270.

A second stroller device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,357 toWang. Wang discloses a foldable three-wheeled trolley that canaccommodate a seat for carrying a baby between a pair of push members60. The trolley includes a straight main body 10, a slide member 20slideable thereon, a fork 11 at a front end, and two transverse axleunits 50 at a back end. The slide member 20 connects to back ends of apair of support rods 60 via a U-shaped member 30 pivotably connected atboth ends. When reconfiguring the trolley for transport or storage, theslide member 20 slides forward along the main body 10, rotating supportrods 60 downward and the transverse axle units 50 forward and retractingrear wheels 54 alongside main body 10.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,562,300 to Nelson discloses a stroller having a tricycleconfiguration capable of carrying at least one child safety seat. Thestroller has foldable right and left handlebars 40 and 42 attached at aback end of parallel right and left longitudinal frame members 30 and32. A front wheel 12 removably attaches between frame members 30 and 32at their respective front ends. The stroller also includes parallelfirst and second lateral members 18 and 20 having V-shaped end members22 at opposing ends thereof to which main wheels 14 and 16 removablyattach. The first and second lateral members 18 and 20, along with rightand left lateral seat latch attachment rods 48 and 50, provide formounting at least one child seat thereto.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2001/0035626 A1 to Kettlerdiscloses a tricycle comprising a front frame 6, a rear frame 1, and anintermediate frame 12. The front frame 6 includes a handlebar 8, a frontwheel 10, pedals 22 for driving the front wheel 10, and an innertelescopic tube 17 at a back end. The rear frame 1 includes a first seat5, an outer telescopic tube 16, and a rear axle 2 with rear wheels 3 and4 mounted at opposing ends thereof. The inner telescopic tube 17 of thefront frame 6 is slideable into the outer telescopic tube 16 of the rearframe and can be locked at different positions therein. The intermediateframe 12 includes a second seat 13, lateral foot rests 15, a holdingelement 14, an outer telescopic tube 16 at a front end, and an innertelescopic tube 17 at a back end. In an alternate configuration, theinner telescopic tube 17 of the front frame 6 is slideable into thetelescopic tube 16 of the intermediate frame 12 and lockable at severalpositions therein, while the outer telescopic tube 16 of theintermediate frame 12 is slideable over the inner telescopic tube 17 ofthe rear frame 1, and is also lockable at several positions therein.Therefore, Kettler discloses a tricycle that can be lengthened toaccommodate a second rider by inserting the intermediate frame 12between the front and rear frames 6 and 1. Additionally, the tricycle'slength can be varied depending on the locking position(s) of the innertelescopic tube(s) 17 within the outer telescopic tube(s) 16.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,666 to Prea discloses a bicycle convertible into atricycle and vice versa. In the tricycle configuration, an axle 9,having both a tricycle axle 36 and a bicycle axle 37, mounts to a backend of a single-beam arm 13. In the bicycle configuration, the bicycleaxle 37 is detached from the tricycle axle 36 and mounted to the backend of the single-beam arm 13, wherein a wheel 8 mounted at an end ofthe bicycle axle 37 opposite the single-beam arm 13 longitudinallyaligns with a steerable front wheel 3. The bicycle also includes a seat1, handlebars 2, a frame 4, and pedals 5 and 6.

Next, U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US 2003/0151225 to Lopezdiscloses a tricycle having a single tube frame with a front portion 40and a rear portion 44. Adjustable handlebars 37, a front fork 42, and afront wheel 26 attach to a front end of the frame while foldablebrackets 48 and a foldable seat 72 mount at a back end thereof. Arotatable pedal crank mounts to a bracket 47 extending from the frontfork 42 for driving the front wheel 26 via a continuous chain 32. Thefoldable brackets 48 pivotably attach to the rear portion 44 at one endand pivotably attach to a bracket 64 at an opposing end. A rear wheel 25attaches to an outer end of each bracket 64. By releasing pin 62 from amating plate 61, the brackets 48 fold forward, collapsing the foldableseat 72 while rear wheels 25 remain substantially parallel due to hingedbrackets 64. The tricycle alternately includes an intermediate memberdisposed between the front portion 40 and rear portion 44 lengtheningthe tricycle and providing a tandem seating arrangement for twopassengers.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 2,468,933 to Jones discloses a two-wheeledvehicle that is convertible from a two-wheeled scooter to a bicycle andvice versa. The vehicle is essentially a push scooter including a frame13, rear and front wheels 1 and 2, a footrest 16 disposed betweenlongitudinal extending frame tubes 14 and 15, and adjustable handlebars5b for steering. Additionally, an arcuate-shaped support 25, including aseat 19, foot pedals 20 and 21, and a pulley 46, can easily be attachedand removed from the frame 13, converting the vehicle from a two-wheeledscooter into a bicycle and vice versa. When the arcuate-shaped support25 is attached to the frame, a belt 47 slips onto the pulley 46 and asecond pulley 45 for transferring the motion of the pedals 20 and 21 tothe rear wheel 1 to drive the vehicle.

Although the related art described above discloses strollers having thecapability to fold in a compact manner for storage or transportation,vehicles extendable by adding additional frame members, and vehiclesconvertible from a two-wheeled orientation to a three-wheeledorientation, the related art fails to disclose converting a steerableand pushable stroller for carrying a passenger, such as a child, and aseparate bicycle into a rideable operator-powered stroller-cycle bycombining the vehicles both physically and operationally.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a combination stroller-cycle vehicle.The stroller-cycle is a vehicle for pushing and riding. The vehicleincludes a frame having a front portion and a rear portion. The frontportion of the frame has a lower connection post containing braking andsteering components and the rear portion of the frame has an upperconnection post containing braking and steering components for the rearportion. The upper and lower connection posts can be rigidly engaged,for example, threadedly engaged within a steering portion of the frame.A hitch beam is disposed on the front portion of the frame. An attachingmechanism, such as, for example, a hitch clamp, is disposed on the rearportion of the frame being fastened around the hitch beam for connectingthe front portion and the rear portion. A pair of front wheels areoperationally connected to the front portion of the frame and at leastone rear wheel is operationally connected to the rear portion of theframe.

A brake lever on the riding section of the vehicle controls a firstfront brake cable. A rotatable front knob disposed in the stem of thevehicle has a central aperture. An upper connection post has an upperend and a lower threaded end. An outer surface of the upper end engagesa lower inner surface or lower portion of the central aperture of therotatable front knob. A lower connection post is aligned with the upperconnection post. The lower connection post has a cable slide therein,the cable slide having a threaded aperture at an upper end. A cable rodhas a first end slidably disposed within the upper connection post and asecond end threadedly connected to an inner surface of the cable slidein the lower connection post. A cable adjuster is partially disposedwithin and threadedly connected to an upper inner surface or upperportion of the central aperture of the rotatable front knob. A coilspring is arranged between the cable rod and the cable adjuster. A cablestop is disposed at an end of the cable rod for clamping a terminal endof the first front brake cable. The first front brake cable extends fromthe brake lever through the cable adjuster, the spring and the cable rodand terminates at the cable stop. The lower connection post includes asecond front brake cable that extends from a pair of front wheels of thevehicle and terminates in the cable slide.

The present invention also relates to a method of making a vehicle forpushing and riding including providing a pushing section and a ridingsection of a frame. The riding section of the frame includes a frontwheel and at least one rear wheel. The front wheel is removed from theriding section. A lower connection post of the pushing section isinserted into a steerer portion on the riding section for engagementwith an upper connection post in the steerer portion. A hitch beam onthe pushing section is aligned with a hitch clamp on the riding section.The hitch clamp is then closed around the hitch beam. In order to securethe upper connection post and the lower connection post, a front knob atan upper end of the upper connection post is rotated, causing a rotationof the upper connection and a lower end thereof to move toward and intothe threaded aperture of the upper end of the lower connection post.

The present invention also relates to a cable splicing assembly forguiding therethrough a pair of control cables in the vehicle. The cablesplicing assembly includes a splice housing having a circumferentialopening at a first end and a pair of apertures at an opposite secondend. A piston is configured to slide axially within the splice housingbetween the opposite ends thereof in response to movement of the pair ofcontrol cables. The piston has an opening therethrough for guiding thepair of control cables through a longitudinal length. A housing cap ismounted around the first end of the splice housing to close thecircumferential opening of the splice housing and to form a cavity withthe first end of the splice housing.

The present invention further relates to a method of providing brakingfrom a riding section to a pushing section in the vehicle. The methodincludes providing a first front brake cable from a braking portion ofthe riding section into a steering portion of the riding section. Asecond front brake cable from the steering portion of the riding sectionis provided to a braking portion of the pushing section. The secondfront brake cable is inserted into a cable splicing assembly having aconcentrically arranged housing cap, piston and housing assembly. Thesecond front brake cable is secured with at least one set screwthreadedly inserted into the piston from an outer circumferentialsurface thereof. A pushing section having a parking brake cable is alsoprovided. The parking brake cable of the pushing section is insertedinto the cable splicing assembly and secured with at least one set screwthreadedly inserted into the piston from an outer circumferentialsurface thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features of the invention will be more readily understood withreference to the following description and the attached drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a fully assembled stroller-cycle frame and strollercover according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A to 2C illustrate an exemplary stroller for the stroller-cycleframe and casters of the pushing section;

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an exemplary cycle for the stroller-cycleframe and detailed view of the fork-steerer tube;

FIG. 4 illustrates the stroller-cycle frame;

FIGS. 5A to 5E illustrate the assembly steps for the stroller-cycle;

FIGS. 6A to 6D illustrate the hitch assembly;

FIGS. 7A to 7D illustrate a pushbar mechanism;

FIGS. 8A to 8E illustrate a folding mechanism for folding the pushingsection;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of the pushing section;

FIG. 10 illustrates alignment of the steering assemblies of the pushingand riding sections;

FIG. 11 illustrates the connection between the steering assemblies ofthe pushing and riding sections;

FIGS. 12A to 12C illustrate the braking and steering assembly of thepushing section;

FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate the steering mechanisms of the pushingsection from below;

FIG. 14 illustrates a top perspective view of the front knob and stem;

FIGS. 15A to 15G illustrate the braking and steering assembly of theriding section;

FIGS. 16A to 16C illustrate the braking and steering assemblies of thepushing and riding sections;

FIG. 17 illustrates a schematic diagram of the cable splicing assembly;

FIGS. 18A and 18B illustrate an exploded view of the cable splicingassembly;

FIGS. 19A and 19B illustrate the cable splicing assembly in the pushingsection;

FIG. 20 illustrates cycle brake cables leading to the cable splicingassembly; and

FIG. 21 illustrates the first front brake cable from the cycle handlebarto one of the front wheels.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the different figures, the same reference numerals designateidentical or similar features or components.

The present invention is related to a vehicle 2 for pushing and riding,for example, a vehicle such as a convertible stroller and cycle whereinthe stroller can be pushed while the cycle is ridden. FIGS. 1-4illustrate a vehicle 2 for pushing and riding having a frame including apushing section and a riding section. FIG. 1 shows a fully assembledvehicle for pushing and riding including a covering and seat for thepassenger seating area of the pushing section. FIG. 2 shows the strollerforming the pushing section 4. FIG. 3A shows the cycle 5 forming theriding section 6.

The stroller forming the pushing section 4 as shown in FIG. 2, has apair of wheels 12, each with a brake 14, such as, for example, abuilt-in internal drum brake hub 25 and a quick release axle 16. Inaddition, the pushing section 4 has, in a direction from the front tothe rear, a seating area including a front bumper 18, foot support bar20, knee support beam 22 and cross beam 24 laterally arranged for thecomfort of the passenger. The seating portion of the pushing section 4is connected by pushing section side frames 26. The pushing section 4also includes a U-shaped steering frame 28 substantially orthogonal toand extending from the cross beam 24. The steering frame 28 includes ahitch beam 30 for connecting the pushing section 4 to the riding section6. A further connection between the pushing section 4 and the ridingsection 6 is provided by a hitch post or lower connection post 32 thatwill be described below.

The front portion or pushing section of the vehicle frame has a pair ofcasters 62 at a front end thereof for balancing the front portion whenthe front portion operates separately from the rear portion. The casters62 are pivotable for operation and nonoperation with a quick releaselever 64 as shown in FIGS. 2B and 2C. For example, when the pushingsection 4 is a stroller and operates separately from the rear portion orriding section 6, the casters 62 are pivotable downward in anoperational state to balance the stroller. When the pushing section 4 iscombined with the rear portion or riding section 6, the casters 62 arepivotable upward and fastened in a non-operational state as shown inFIG. 2B.

The cycle 5, which forms the riding section 6, as shown in FIG. 3A, isillustrated as having a single front wheel 7 and rear wheel 8, forexample. A cycle fork holds the front wheel 7 and allows the operator tosteer. The fork is connected through a hollow fork-steerer tube 36 tothe head tube 10 and stem 38 to the handlebars 40. The handlebars 40have a brake lever 42 mounted thereto. The stem 38 is hollow so as toinsert the front braking and steering assembly for the stroller-cycle 2.

In the front braking and steering assembly, a front connection knob 44is inserted into the stem 38 and is rotatably tightened and loosened tocontrol the connection and disconnection, respectively, of the frontbraking and steering assembly for the stroller-cycle 2. The cycle 5,forming the riding section 6, also includes a hitching assembly 46 onthe downtube 48 of the cycle 5. The hitching assembly 46 includes anattaching mechanism or hitch clamp 50 and a hitch pin for allowing thehitch clamp to pivot in the open and closed positions on the downtube 48of the riding section 6.

The cycle 5 can be formed of an aluminum frame, for example. The seatpost of the cycle can have a quick release mechanism for removing theseat. The rear wheel 8 of the cycle 5 can have mounted thereon amulti-speed internal geared hub for changing the gears of the cycle 5.

In the present invention, a separate stroller and cycle can be easilyand quickly converted to the stroller-cycle 2 of the present inventionwithout tools so that a cycle operator can transport a strollerpassenger. The conversion of a separate stroller and cycle to aconvertible stroller-cycle 2 is accomplished by removing the front wheel7 of the cycle 5 shown in FIG. 3A to form a riding section 6. Then, therelated front wheel braking components shown FIG. 3B are disconnected.The pushing section 4 is then attached to the front of the cycle 5 inplace of the cycle front wheel. The cycle and stroller braking controlsare combined in the steering column or head tube 10 of the ridingsection 6 so that the operator can control the braking action of boththe riding section 6 and the pushing section 4 of the stroller-cycle 2.In the present invention, the term cycle includes a bicycle, tricycle ortandem cycle or any other operator-powered cycle. The present inventionconsiders that the term cycle also includes an electrical orfuel-powered cycle. The connection between the riding section 6 andpushing section 4 of the convertible stroller-cycle 2 will now bedescribed.

FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the completed frame for the vehiclefor pushing and riding having a front portion and a rear portion. Thefront portion includes the pushing section 4, having a passenger seatingarea, and the rear portion includes the riding section 6, having anoperator seating area. The front portion of the frame has a lowerconnection post containing the braking and steering components for thefront portion. The rear portion of the frame has an upper connectionpost containing the braking and steering components for the rearportion. The upper and lower connection posts can be threadedly engaged,interference-fit or fastened by another method within the head tube 10of the frame. The pair of front wheels 12 is operationally connected tothe front portion of the vehicle frame and at least one rear wheel 8 isoperationally connected to the rear portion of the vehicle frame. Therear wheel 8 can be a single wheel as shown in FIG. 4 or can be aplurality of in-line wheels such as in a tandem cycle.

FIGS. 5A through 5E illustrate a conversion from the separate strollerand cycle to the stroller-cycle 2 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5A illustratesthe stroller forming the pushing section 4 and the cycle 5 forming theriding section 6. FIG. 5B illustrates the removal of the front wheel 7from the cycle 5 and the rotation and locking of the stroller push bar11 from a direction toward the rear of the stroller to a directiontoward the front of the stroller. FIG. 5C illustrates the alignment ofthe center of the cycle hollow fork-steerer tube 36 with the lowerconnection post 34 on the pushing section 4. FIG. 50 illustrates thesliding of the hollow fork-steerer tube 36 over the top of the lowerconnection post 34, or alternatively, the insertion of the lowerconnection post into the hollow fork-steerer tube 36. In addition, FIG.50 illustrates the positioning of the hitch beam 30 of the pushingsection 4 in the hitch clamp 50 of the riding section 6. FIG. 5Eillustrates the tightening of the front connection knob 52 into the stem38 for connecting the braking and steering assembly of the ridingsection 6 with the braking and steering assembly of the pushing section4 and the closing of the hitch clamp 50 around the hitch beam 30.

The hitch clamp 50 is controlled by a hitching assembly 46, as shown inFIGS. 6A through 6D. The hitching assembly 46 includes a threaded hitchknob rod 54 that is inserted substantially vertically into an aperturein the downtube 48 of the riding section 6. The hitch knob rod 54 isguided within the aperture by a knob top retainer 56 a disposed at anentrance side and a knob bottom retainer 56 b at an exit side of theaperture. The knob top retainer 56 a and knob bottom retainer 56 b haveinner surfaces into which the hitch knob rod 54 is slidably inserted.The upper end of the hitch knob rod 54 is located on an upper side ofthe downtube and has a hitch knob 58 for rotating the hitch knob rod.The lower end of the hitch knob rod 54 has threads for threadedlyconnecting with a threaded aperture 55 in the attaching mechanism orhitch clamp 50 disposed on an underside of the downtube. FIG. 6B showsthat the hitch knob rod 54 can be threadedly inserted into the hitchclamp 50 and that through the rotation of the hitch knob 58 the hitchknob rod 54 moves the hitch clamp 50 relative to the hitch beam 30 onthe pushing section 4. Rotation of the hitch knob 58, as shown in FIG.6C, closes and tightens the hitch clamp 50 to secure the hitch beam 30of the front portion to the rear portion of the vehicle frame, shown inFIG. 5E. Other methods of securing the hitch clamp 50 around the hitchbeam 30 include a push-button release mechanism, wherein the hitch knob58 is pushed downward so that the hitch knob rod 54 attaches to andholds the hitch clamp 50 in place around the hitch beam 30. A hinge pin60 allows the hitch clamp 50 to pivot in the open and closed positions.

FIGS. 7A-7D illustrate a pushbar 11 of the present invention. Thepushbar 11 can be gripped by a user to control the direction and speedof the pushing section 4 when the pushing section is being used as astroller alone. The pushbar 11 can be connected to a back frame 63, sothat the push bar 11 can pivot with respect to the back frame 63. Thepush bar 11 can be covered with a shock absorbent or pliant material 37,such as foam, to provide a soft surface for the user's hands when theuser is pushing the stroller.

The pushbar 11 in FIG. 7 A is illustrated as a U-shaped member, but thepushbar can have any shape having opposite and parallel ends to allowthe functionality discussed herein. The parallel ends 11 a, 11 b of thepushbar 11 are inserted into pushbar housings 41 mounted on the arms 63a, 63 b of the back frame 63 by attaching members 65, such as screws.For clarity, only one of the pushbar housings 41 is shown in FIGS. 7Aand 7B.

A pair of pushbar mechanisms 13 is mounted on the first and second arms63 a, 63 b of the back frame 63 and adjusts the relative position of thepushbar 11 to a back frame 63 of a pushing section in the convertiblestroller-cycle 2. For clarity, only one of the push bar mechanisms 13 isshown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. The push bar mechanisms 13 allow the pushbar11 to pivot to multiple positions, including a direction facing a rearside of the pushing section 4 and a direction facing the front side ofthe pushing section, when the pushing section is connected to the ridingsection 6. As shown in FIG. 7B, the components of the pushbar mechanism13 are disposed between the push bar housing 41, a push bar mechanismhousing cover 47 and push bar mechanism housing base 61. The push barmechanism housing cover 47 is connected on an inner side to the push barmechanism housing base 61 and on an outer side to the pushbar housing41.

In between the pushbar mechanism housing base 61 and the pushbarmechanism housing cover 47 is a position plate 49 adapted to be fixedrelative to the pushbar 11. The position plate 49 has a centralaperture, a plurality of auxiliary apertures 67 a extending radiallyfrom the central aperture 67 and a plurality of engaging apertures 67 bas shown in FIG. 70. A position pin device includes a central pin 51mounted on a base. The position pin 51 has a proximal end attached tothe base and a distal end. A first locating pin 53 a and a secondlocating pin 53 b are disposed adjacent to the proximal end of thecentral pin 51 and are also mounted on the base. The central pin 51 isadapted to pass through the central aperture of the position plate 49and extend through the push bar mechanism housing cover 47 to theoutside of the pushbar mechanism 13 where the central pin 51 is cappedby a position pin button 39. The first locating pin 53 a is adapted topass through one of the plurality of auxiliary apertures and the secondlocating pin 53 b is adapted to pass through the plurality of engagingapertures to fix the pushbar 11 relative to the back frame 63 in one ofa plurality of positions. A biasing member 57, such as a coil spring,urges the position pin device into engagement with the position plate49.

The position pin button 39 disengages the first locating pin 53 a fromthe auxiliary aperture and the second locating pin 53 b from one of theplurality of engaging apertures so that the pushbar 11 can move from afirst position to a second position. The position pin button 39 isprevented from disengaging the locating pins 53 a, 53 b when a forceapplied by the biasing member 57 exceeds a predetermined amount.

As shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, the central pin 51 is longer than the firstand second locating pins 53 a and 53 b, respectively, such that thecentral pin 51 can extend to the outside of the push bar mechanism 13 tobe accessible to the user. The first locating pin 53 a is rectangularshaped and can only be inserted into the auxiliary apertures in onedirection. The second locating pin 53 b is tapered to have a diameterwith a proximal end that is wider than the diameter of the distal end.

The auxiliary apertures are integral with the central aperture so thatone end of the auxiliary aperture begins at the outer edge of thecentral aperture. The auxiliary apertures extend radially from thecentral aperture and have the same shape as the first locating pin 53 a,so that the first locating pin can be secured in the auxiliaryapertures.

A position plate bolt 43 on the outer side of the back frame 63 isthreadedly inserted into a position plate 49 located on an inner side ofthe back frame 63. The position plate bolt 43 holds the position plate49 to the pushbar mount housing 47. A pushbar housing washer 45 having acentral aperture is disposed on an outer surface of the pushbar mounthousing 47 and allows the position plate bolt 43 to smoothly rotatetherein without causing wear. The central apertures of the positionplate 49, push bar mount housing 47, pushbar housing washer 45 andposition plate bolt 43 are aligned so that the position pin 51 can beinserted therethrough from the position plate 49 to the pushbar housing41 where the end of the position pin 51 is capped by the position pinbutton 39.

Releasing the first and second locating pins 53 a and 53 b from theposition plate 49 so that the push bar 11 can pivot with respect to theback frame 63 is shown in FIG. 7D. The dotted lines in FIG. 7Dillustrate the initial position of the push button 39 and the solidlines illustrate the depressed pushbutton 39. The depressed pushbutton39 pushes the position pin away from the position plate 49, therebyreleasing the adjacent first and second locating pins 53 a and 53 b fromthe apertures 67 a and 67 b in the position plate 49. With the positionpin 51 depressed, the first and second locating pins 53 a and 53 b arereleased from their respective apertures, and the pushbar 11 is allowedto rotate freely. When the user releases the pushbutton 39, the firstand second locating pins 53 a and 53 b return to their respectiveapertures 67 a and 67 b in the position plate 49 under the force of thespring 57, thereby locking the mechanism 13 and preventing the pushbar11 from rotating freely.

The materials for the push bar mechanism can be metal or plastic, acombination of metal and plastic or a combination of other materials.

FIGS. 8A-8E illustrate a folding mechanism 15 for folding the pushbar 11to and from a position for configuring the back frame 63 of the pushingsection 4 of the convertible stroller-cycle 2 to form a passengerenclosure, such as the enclosure shown in FIG. 1. The folding mechanismincludes a fold strut 81 and the back frame 63 pivotally connected tothe fold strut through a fold bracket 77. The back frame 63 is hollow soas to have threaded therethrough a pair of pull cords 71, 71, each pullcord extending symmetrically from each arm 63 a, 63 b of the back frame63, as shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C. The pair of the pull cords 71, 71 hasan advanced state when the pull cords are pulled and a retracted statewhen the pull cords are not pulled. The pull cords 71, 71 are pulled bya handle 69. Pulling the handle 69 loosens the joint connection allowingthe pushing section 4 to be folded. As shown in FIG. 8B, the pull cords71, 71 are in a retracted state and as shown in FIG. 8C, the pull cords71, 71 are in an advanced state when the handle 69 is pulled.

As shown in FIG. 8B, a pivot sleeve 73 is fixed within the arms 63 a and63 b of the back frame 63. The pivot sleeve 73 provides a backingsurface for the spring 75 to press against the pivot pin 83. The pivotpin 83 is concentrically disposed within the pivot sleeve 73 and isadapted to slide a limited distance upward therein when the pull cords71, 71 are in the advanced state. In FIGS. 8B and 8C, the connectingportion of the pivot pin 83 is removed for clarity; however, as shown inFIGS. 8D and 8E, the pivot pin 83 is connected to the fold latch 89 androtates thereon through the latch pin 85. The pivot pin 83 has a slotfor receiving a pivot axle bolt 91. The pivot axle bolt 91 is fixed toand extends perpendicularly from the fold bracket 77 so that the backframe 63 through the pivot pin 83 can rotate.

A fold latch 89 is rotatably supported on and semi-circumscribes a latchpost 87 and is held in a first position by a radial force applied by thepivot pin 83. The fold latch 89 is adapted to move to a second positionwhen the radial force applied by the pivot pin 83 is removed during anadvanced state of the pull cords 71, 71, as shown in FIGS. 8C and 8D.

A biasing member 75, such as a coil spring, urges or otherwise biasesthe pivot pin 83 into engagement with the fold latch 89 in the retractedstate of the pull cords 71,71.

The folding mechanism also includes a fold bracket 77 for connecting thefold strut 81 to the back frame 63. In operation the back frame 63pivots along the fold bracket 77 with respect to the fold strut 81. Afold washer or fold spacer 79 is disposed between the back frame 63 andthe fold bracket 77 to prevent wear of the back frame 63. A latch pin 85mounts the fold latch 89 to the pivot pin 83 and a fold pivot axle bolt91 mounts the back frame 63 to the fold bracket 77.

When the pivot pin 83 is in a retracted state, the fold latch 89 islocked in place against the latch post 87 and does not rotate. Theposition of the fold latch 89 therefore prevents the pushing section 4from folding forward.

In operation, when the user pulls the handle 69, the handle pulls thepull cords 71, 71, causing the pivot pin 83 to move upward. When thepivot pin 83 moves upward, the pivot pin allows the fold latch 89 tobegin to rotate around the latch pin 85 and removes the fold latch frombeing in a first position locked against latch post 87. As such, thefold latch 89 is able to rotate freely about the latch pin 85. Byallowing the fold latch 89 to rotate freely, the fold latch 89 also isreleased from the latch post 87. The handle 69 can continue to be pulledto a maximum predetermined amount so that the fold latch 89 is able torotate freely around latch post 87 and the back frame 63 can pivot to aposition with respect to the fold strut 81.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of the pushing section 4 showing thecomponents of the braking and steering assembly thereof. The componentsinclude a cable slide sleeve 72, which is slidably inserted into thelower connection post 34. A cable slide 76 is slidably inserted into thecable slide sleeve 72. A braking cable 86 that controls the braking ofthe wheels 12 of the pushing section 4 is fixed in one end of the cableslide 76. The lower connection post 34, cable slide sleeve 72 and cableslide 76 are concentrically and rotatably arranged within a pushingsection steerer tube 66. The lower connection post 34 can transmit abraking force from the riding section 6 to the pushing section 4. Thepushing section steerer tube 66 transmits the turning motion from thehandlebars 40 to the pushing section 4. One end of the lower connectionpost 34 is disposed in the pushing section steerer tube 66 and the otherend of the lower connection post 34 is disposed within a fork-steerertube 36 of the riding section. The pushing section steerer tube 66rotates within a cylindrical headset pivot 130 and fixed to the headsetpivot by a threaded headset 132 provided at opposite ends thereof.

FIG. 10 illustrates the alignment and slidable insertion of the lowerconnection post 34 of the pushing section 4 into the hollow fork-steerertube 36. The hollow fork-steerer tube 36 connects the steering of thepushing section 4 with the steering of the riding section 6. In the headtube 10, the upper connection post of the riding section is connectedwith the lower connection post 34 of the pushing section. FIG. 11 showsthe lower end of the head tube 10 in which the lower connection post isrotatably inserted within the pushing section steerer tube 66. Thepushing section steerer tube 66 includes a tab 68 on an upper edge forengaging a notch 70 on the fork-steerer tube 36 of the head tube 10, sothat the steerer tube 66 moves with the head tube 10.

The braking components of the pushing section 4 and the riding section 6of the vehicle frame are combined in the head tube 10 of the ridingsection so that the braking operation of the pushing section iscontrolled by the braking lever 42 of the riding section 6.

Referring to FIGS. 12A-15G, the braking and steering assembly in thestroller-cycle will now be described. As illustrated in FIGS. 12A and12C, the braking and steering components of the pushing section aredisposed within the lower connection post 34. The lower connection post34 includes a cable slide sleeve 72 concentrically fixed therein by afixing member 74. The fixing member 74 can be laterally inserted intothe side of the cable slide sleeve 72 through the lower connection post34 to prevent the cable slide sleeve 72 from rotating with respect tothe lower connection post 34. A cable slide 76 is slidably inserted intothe cable slide sleeve 72. The cable slide 76 has a fixing member 78laterally inserted into a side thereof by threading or press-fitting toprevent the cable slide 76 from rotating with respect to the cable slidesleeve 72. A cable plug 80 is inserted into the bottom of the lowerconnection post 34 to close a circumferential opening 82 therein. Thecable plug 80 has a longitudinal guide hole 84 for centering a secondcontrol cable, such as a front brake cable from the pushing section 4 inthe lower connection post 34 and securing an end of a cable housing 88encasing the second front brake cable. Similar to the cable slide sleeve72 and the cable slide 76, the cable plug 80 can have a fixing member 90laterally inserted into a side thereof and through a side of the lowerconnection post 34 to prevent the cable plug from rotating with respectto the lower connection post 34. A slot 92 is provided in the cableslide sleeve 72 to prevent the cable slide 76 from rotatingconcentrically in the cable slide sleeve 72.

The cable slide sleeve 72 has an inner surface for concentricallyguiding the cable slide 76. The cable slide 76 also has a threadedopening 94 in an upper end and a notched opening 96 in a lower end. Thethreaded opening 94 in the upper end of the cable slide 76 receives alower threaded end 106 b of a cable rod 106 from the upper connectionpost 104, shown in FIG. 15A and discussed in further detail below. Thenotched opening 96 in the lower end of the cable slide 76 receives andretains a terminal end 98 of the second front brake cable 86 forcontrolling the braking of the front wheels 12 of the pushing section 4.

FIGS. 13A to 13C illustrate a brake 14 of the pushing section 4 and thesteering operation of the pushing section 4 as controlled from theriding section 6. The schematic drawing of FIG. 13A illustrates thecomponents of the steering section. The steering operation of thepushing section 4 is achieved by translating the rotational movement ofthe lower connection post 34, which is connected to the upper connectionpost in the riding section 6, into the linear movement of first tie rod21 and second tie rod 23. The lower connection post 34 is disposedwithin the cylindrical headset pivot 130. The first tie rod 21 is boltedto the pushing section steerer tube 66 through a plate 19 mounted at theend of the steerer tube extending through the bottom of the cylindricalheadset pivot 130. The pushing section steerer tube 66 is rigidlyattached to the cylindrical headset pivot 130 by threaded headsets 132.The pushing section steerer tube 66 thus rotates with the rotation ofthe lower connection post 34, which is connected to the upper connectionpost 104 within the head tube 10. The pushing section steerer tube 66 isconnected to the plate 19 to which one end of the first tie rod 21 isbolted. The other end of the first tie rod 21 is bolted at the wheelsteering pivot 17. The second tie rod 23 is also bolted at one end tothe wheel steering pivot 17 at the hub of one wheel 12 and connected atthe other end to the hub of the other wheel 12. Bolts through the end ofthe tie rods 21 and 23 hold the tie rods to the steering bracket. Assuch, the tie rod 21 is connected through a wheel steering pivot 17 onthe wheel 12 to transmit steering from the riding section 6 to the frontwheels 12 of the pushing section 4. FIG. 13B shows the tie rod 21connected through a bolt 27 and plate 35 to the wheel steering pivot 17.The plate 35 is connected to the wheel steering pivot 17. The slidingmovement of the tie rod 21 causes the plate 35 to pivot on the bolt 27.The pivoting movement of the plate 35 on the wheel steering pivot 17causes the wheel 12 to move in the direction of the tie rod 21. As aresult, the wheel 12 of the pushing section 4 turns under the control ofthe riding section 6.

In FIGS. 13B and 13C, the parking braking assembly 14 of the pushingsection 4 includes a brake 25, such as, for example, a drum brake. Aparking brake cable 134 of the pushing section 4, when controlled by theoperator, maintains the pushing section in a stationary position byapplying a force to the brake 25. Also shown in FIG. 13C is a quickrelease mechanism 16 for quickly and easily removing the wheel 12.

FIG. 14 illustrates a top view of a front connection knob 44 receiving afirst front brake cable 120.

As shown in FIG. 14, the braking and steering assembly in thestroller-cycle 2 includes a brake lever 42 in the riding section on, forexample, the handlebar 40, to control the first front brake cable 120.

The braking and steering assembly components 100 disposed in the headtube 10 and stem 38 of the riding section 6 will now be described withreference to FIGS. 15A to 15G. The rotatable front connection knob 44 isdisposed at the top of the stem of the riding section 6, as shown inFIG. 15A, and has a central aperture 102 in which an upper portionthereof is threaded and a lower portion is unthreaded. The upperconnection post 104 has an upper end 104 a that is inserted and fixed inthe lower portion of the central aperture 102 of the front connectionknob 44, as shown in FIG. 15A. The upper connection post 104 also has alower threaded end 104 b that is received in the top or upper threadedend 34 a of the lower connection post 34 so as to secure together theupper and lower connection posts 104 and 34, respectively. The axes ofthe upper and lower connection posts 104 and 34 are aligned. Asdescribed above, the lower connection post 34 has a cable slide 76therein that slides vertically within a fixed cable slide sleeve 72. Thecable slide 76 has a threaded aperture 94 at an upper end for receivingone end 106 b of a cable rod 106 disposed within the upper connectionpost 104. The cable rod 106 has a first end 106 a slidably disposedwithin the upper connection post 104 and the second end 106 b of thecable rod is threadedly connected within the threaded aperture 94 of thecable slide 76 in the lower connection post 34. A cable rod fixingmember 108 is laterally inserted into the side of the cable rod 106. Aslot 110 in one side of the upper connection post 104 receives a cablerod fixing member 108 to prevent the cable rod 106 from rotating withinthe upper connection post 104. The cable rod fixing member 108 can belaterally inserted into the cable rod 106 by press-fitting, threading orother fixing method.

A cable adjuster 112 is also disposed within the upper portion of thecentral aperture 102 of the rotatable front connection knob 44, and isthreadedly connected to an inner surface thereof. A coil spring 114 isarranged between the cable rod 106 and the cable adjuster 112. The coilspring 114 is in a compressed state and continually applies a downwardpressure on the cable rod 106 so that the cable rod is disposed in thecorrect position for being threaded into the cable slide 76 when thepushing section 4 and riding section 6 are joined.

A cable stop 116 is disposed at an end of the cable rod 106 for clampinga terminal end of the first front brake cable 120. Clamping in the cablestop 116 is achieved by cable stop fixing members 118.

The upper connection post 104 guides therethrough the first front brakecable 120 that extends from the brake lever 42 through the cableadjuster 112, the coil spring 114 and the cable rod 106 and terminatesat the cable stop 116. Fixing members 118 hold the first front brakecable 120 firmly in the cable stop 116. The lower connection post 34guides therethrough the second front brake cable 86. The second frontbrake cable 86 extends from the front wheels 12 of the vehicle andterminates in the cable slide 76. The second front brake cable 86 alsopasses through a splicing assembly as will be described below.

The front connection knob 44 rotates in clockwise and counterclockwisedirections. In one of the rotation directions, the front connection knob44 connects the upper connection post 104 in the riding section 6 withthe lower connection post 34 in the pushing section 4 so that brakingand steering in the riding section controls the braking and steering inthe pushing section. In the opposite rotation direction, the frontconnection knob 44 disconnects the upper connection post 104 from thelower connection post 34. A front rotation knob fixing member 122 isinserted into a side portion of the front connection knob 44 and throughthe upper connection post 104 to secure the front connection knob 44 andthe upper connection post 104 together and prevent the upper connectionpost from rotating relative to the front connection knob 44.

A spacer 124, as shown in FIGS. 15A and 15D to 15F, disposal between anouter surface of the upper connection post 104 and the inner surface ofthe head tube 10 centers the upper connection post 104 within the headtube 10. A spacer fixing member 126 holds the spacer 124 on the upperconnection post.

FIGS. 16A to 16C illustrate the braking and steering assemblies of thepushing and riding sections.

The disconnected state of the braking and steering assembly is shown inFIG. 16A. As shown in FIG. 16A, before connection of the upper and lowerconnection posts 104 and 34, the cable rod 106 in the upper connectionpost 104 hovers over the threaded opening of the lower connection post34. The front connection knob 44 is shown in an extended state from theretainer 128 in the stem 38. The retainer 128 retains the frontconnection knob 44 and the braking and steering components of the ridingsection in the head tube 10. The downward movement of the frontconnection knob 44 causes the cable rod 106 to enter the lowerconnection post 34 and then be threaded within the cable slide 76.

The connected and operating states of the braking and steering assemblyare shown in FIGS. 16B and 16C, respectively. In the connected state,when the braking lever is not pulled, as shown in FIG. 16B, the cablerod 106 is in a neutral state and the cable slide 76 is at a lowerportion of the lower connection post 34. FIG. 16C illustrates anoperating state wherein the brakes of the front wheels 12 of the pushingsection are controlled from the riding section 6 as follows. When thebrake lever 42 on the riding section is squeezed, the cable rod 106threaded into the cable slide 76 moves upwardly toward the frontconnection knob 44. The threaded end of the cable rod 106, which isthreadedly engaged in the upper end of the cable slide 76, draws thecable slide in the lower connection post 34 upwardly in a directiontoward the front connection knob 44. As a result, the terminal end ofthe second front brake cable 86 is drawn upwardly, which generates acorresponding braking action on the front wheels 12.

The cable splicing assembly 136 for transmitting a braking force fromthe front brake of the riding section 6 and the parking brake of thepushing section 4 to the front wheels of the pushing section will now bedescribed. The cable splicing assembly 136 transmits the braking forceof the front brake of the riding section 6 and the steering of theriding section 6 to one of the front wheels 12 of the pushing section 4.The cable splicing assembly 136 also transmits the braking force fromthe parking brake of the pushing section 4 to the other front wheel 12of the pushing section 4. The braking forces are transmitted by cablescontrolled by the front brake lever on the handlebars 40, 40 of theriding section 6 and from the parking brake of the pushing section 4.

As shown in FIGS. 17 to 21, the cable splicing assembly 136 guidestherethrough a pair of control cables or brake cables. One of the brakecables is a parking brake cable 134 provided from the pushing section 4of the vehicle to one of the left and right wheels of the pushingsection, as shown in FIG. 17. The other brake cable is the second frontbrake cable 86 provided from the braking and steering assembly in thehead tube 10 of the riding section to the other of the right and leftwheels of the pushing section, as shown in FIG. 19A. The pair of brakecables 86, 134 from the pushing and riding sections can extendcompletely through the cable splicing assembly 136 to the wheels 12 ofthe pushing section. Alternatively, the brake cables can comprise twopairs of control or brake cables in which one brake cable from thepushing section and one brake cable from the riding section of thevehicle enter the cable splicing assembly 136 from opposite sides toterminate in the piston, and a pair of brake cables controlling thebrakes at the left and right wheels of the pushing section begin in theopposite end of the piston and terminate at the left and right wheels.

The second front brake cable 86 from the riding section 6 and theparking brake cable 134 from the pushing section 4 enter into the cablesplicing assembly 136 through a housing cap 138, as shown in FIGS. 18A,18B, 19A and 19B. As described above, the front brake cable of theriding section 6 is the second front brake cable 86 that extends fromthe cable slide 76 of the lower connection post 34 to the splicingassembly 136. The housing cap 138 has a pair of apertures 140 in one endsized to securely fit therein cable housings encasing the pair of brakecables 86, 134. The cable housings encase the brake cables 86, 134 up toan inner surface 142 of the housing cap 138, at which point the brakecables 86, 134 extend through a longitudinally opposite single aperture146 in the housing cap 138. The brake cables 86, 134 can be exposed anduncovered throughout the cable splicing assembly 136. The housing cap138 includes a plurality of orthogonally arranged apertures 144 forreceiving fixing members, such as, for example, threaded set screws 148that hold the cable housings in place. Alternatively, the cable housingscan encase the pair of brake cables along their entire length.

The brake cables 86, 134 then enter the piston 156, which is configuredto slide axially within the splice housing between the opposite endsthereof up to the housing cap 138. The piston 156 has an opening 164therethrough for guiding the pair of brake cables through a longitudinallength. The piston 156 slides in response to movement in the pair ofbrake cables 86, 134. For example, when the cycle operator squeezes thefront brake lever 42 on the cycle handlebars 40 as shown in FIG. 14, thebrake cables from the front brake (i.e., the first front brake cable 120and the second front brake cable 86) are pulled in a direction towardthe brake lever 42 which moves the brake cables, thereby allowing thepiston 156 to slide in the cable splicing assembly 136. The piston 156includes at least one aperture 166 in an outer peripheral surface forreceiving fixing members, such as, for example, a threaded set screw 168that clamps the pair of brake cables together.

The cables then enter the splice housing 148, which has oppositelongitudinal ends. A first longitudinal end of the splice housing isproximal to the housing cap 138 and the second longitudinal end isdistal from the housing cap 138. The first longitudinal end 150 of thesplice housing has a circumferential opening 152 that is covered by thehousing cap 138, which has a larger diameter than the first longitudinalend of the splice housing. The longitudinal end of the splice housingand the inner portion of the housing cap 138, form a cavity 154therebetween which allows a piston 156 in the splicing assembly to movefrom one end of the assembly defined by the splice housing to theopposite end of the splice housing defined by the housing cap 138. Thesplice housing also has a pair of apertures 158 at the opposing secondlongitudinal end. The pair of apertures 158 allows the brake cables toexit the splicing assembly and connect to the brakes at each frontwheel. The splice housing also includes a pair of apertures 160 in anouter peripheral surface for receiving fixing members, such as, forexample, threaded set screws 162. Each fixing member 162 holds one ofthe brake cable housings in place.

The pair of brake cables 86, 134 performs a braking action on the frontwheels 12 of the pushing section 4 of the vehicle. In the cable splicingassembly 136, one of the pair of brake cables is a second front brakecable 86 that extends from a front brake of the riding section 6 of thevehicle to one front wheel of the pushing section 4 of the vehicle andanother of the pair of brake cables 134 is a parking brake cable thatextends from a parking brake of the pushing section of the vehicle toanother front wheel of the pushing section of the vehicle.

The splicing assembly can be mounted to the pushing section, such as onthe frame of the pushing section, by fastening the housing cap thereto.The housing cap can be fastened by any means, including but not limitedto, an adhesive, threaded screws and hook and loop fastener a bracket,such as 170 shown in FIG. 19A. The splice housing, piston and housingcap can be foamed from materials such as metal and plastic.

In the present invention, the fixing members include, but are notlimited to, pins, posts, screws or bolts or other fixing means. Thefixing member 74 can be laterally inserted into the side of the cableslide, cable slide sleeve and elements disclosed above, by methodsincluding, but not limited to, threading, press-fitting, and anchoring.

Although the invention has been described based upon these preferredembodiments, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art thatcertain modifications, variations, and alternative constructions wouldbe apparent, while remaining within the spirit and scope of theinvention. In order to determine the metes and bounds of the invention,therefore, reference should be made to the appended claims.

1. A cable splicing assembly for guiding therethrough a pair of controlcables in a vehicle for pushing and riding, the vehicle having a pushingsection and a riding section, the cable splicing assembly comprising: asplice housing having a circumferential opening at a first end and apair of apertures at an opposite second end; a piston configured toslide axially within the splice housing between the opposite endsthereof in response to movement in the pair of control cables, thepiston having an opening therethrough for guiding the pair of controlcables through a longitudinal length; and a housing cap mounted aroundthe first end of the splice housing to close the circumferential openingof the splice housing and to foam a cavity with the first end of thesplice housing.
 2. The cable splicing assembly according to claim 1,wherein one of the pair of control cables extends from a front brake ofthe riding section to one front wheel of the pushing section and anotherof the pair of control cables extends from a parking brake of thepushing section to another front wheel of the pushing section.
 3. Thecable splicing assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pair ofcontrol cables comprise a pair of brake cables for braking the frontwheels of the pushing section of the vehicle.
 4. The cable splicingassembly according to claim 1, wherein the housing cap comprises aplurality of orthogonally arranged apertures for receiving a pluralityof fixing members that hold the cable housings in place.